U.S. patent application number 12/080374 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-09 for miniature disposable safety scalpel.
Invention is credited to Ilija Djordjevic, Sushil K. Kanwar.
Application Number | 20080249550 12/080374 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39827628 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080249550 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Djordjevic; Ilija ; et
al. |
October 9, 2008 |
Miniature disposable safety scalpel
Abstract
A disposable safety scalpel comprises a handle and a blade
carrier, which fit together such that the blade carrier can shift
between a retracted position whereby a front portion of the handle
covers or otherwise blocks contact with the sharp edge of the
blade, and an extended position whereby the sharp edge of the blade
protrudes beyond the handle. The handle has a substantially flat
base portion that can be held by the forefinger of the surgeon for
shifting of the carrier with the thumb between retracted and
extended positions. When the carrier and blade are extended, the
surgeon can hold only the base of the handle between the thumb and
forefinger for cutting during surgery. The shifting between the
retracted and deployed positions with only the fingers of one hand
can be readily accomplished even in the presence of slippery fluids
during surgery.
Inventors: |
Djordjevic; Ilija; (East
Granby, CT) ; Kanwar; Sushil K.; (West Hartford,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALIX YALE & RISTAS LLP
750 MAIN STREET, SUITE 1400
HARTFORD
CT
06103
US
|
Family ID: |
39827628 |
Appl. No.: |
12/080374 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60921738 |
Apr 4, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/167 ;
30/162 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2017/32113
20130101; A61B 17/3213 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/167 ;
30/162 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/3211 20060101
A61B017/3211 |
Claims
1. A surgical scalpel comprising: a handle elongated on a handle
axis and having a front, a back, outer and inner sides, and upper
and lower edges; a blade shield at the upper edge of the handle,
projecting inwardly; a blade carrier elongated on a carrier axis,
having a front, a back, inner and outer sides, and upper and lower
edges; a blade secured to the inner side of the carrier and
projecting from the front of the carrier, the blade having a
cutting edge that faces away from the lower edge of the carrier,
toward the blade shield; upper and lower longitudinal guide tracks
along upper and lower edges of one of the handle or carrier
engaging upper and lower edges respectively on the other of the
handle or carrier, whereby the tracks maintain the carrier and
handle in parallel axial alignment while the carrier and secured
blade are shiftable longitudinally relative to the handle; a
locking device at the back of the carrier including an actuator at
the outside of the carrier and a locking member at the inside of
the carrier; two locking elements longitudinally spaced apart on
the inside of the handle and aligned with the locking member on the
carrier; whereby the locking member is selectively engageable with
each locking element as the carrier and blade shift longitudinally
between a rearward locked safety position in which the cutting edge
of the blade is protected by said shield and a forward locked
deployment position in which the cutting edge of the blade projects
in front of said shield and the front of the handle.
2. The scalpel of claim 1, wherein the back of the handle has a
base portion and the back of the carrier has a base portion and
each of the handle and carrier has a protrusion that narrows away
from the respective base portion toward respective front ends of
the handle and carrier; the height of the base portion of the
carrier is less than the height of the base portion of the handle;
the height of the protruding portion of the carrier is
correspondingly less than the height of the protruding portion of
the handle; and the upper and lower edges of the blade carrier are
in upper and lower guide tracks of the handle.
3. The scalpel of claim 2, wherein the upper guide track extends
along only a portion of the upper edge of the base portion of the
handle; the lower guide track extends from the base portion to the
front end of the handle; and the blade shield extends along the
upper edge of the protruding portion of the handle, forward of the
upper track.
4. The scalpel of claim 1, wherein the back of the handle has a
base portion with textured outer and inner surfaces; the back of
the carrier has a base portion including said locking device which
overlays the base portion of the handle when the scalpel is in the
locked safety position; in the locked safety position of the
scalpel the carrier and blade lie within the front, back, and upper
and lower edges of the handle; and in the deployed position of the
scalpel the base of the carrier is forward of the base of the
handle, whereby the outer and inner surfaces of the base portion of
the handle can be grasped between the thumb and forefinger for
manipulating the blade.
5. The scalpel of claim 4, wherein the locking device comprises a
lever, including an actuator arm having an outwardly projecting pad
forming said actuator, and a locking arm having said locking member
projecting inwardly.
6. The scalpel of claim 5, wherein one of said locking elements is
located immediately forward of the textured surfaces of the base of
the handle; another of said locking elements is longitudinally
spaced forward of said one locking element; a recess in the handle
extends from one web adjacent the one locking element to another
web adjacent the other locking element; whereby during said
shifting of the carrier relative to the handle the locking member
rides in said recess and upon further shifting from the recess into
a locking element is deflected by and rides over a web.
7. The scalpel of claim 5, wherein the actuator arm and the locking
arm have inner surfaces facing the handle; and the inner surface of
the actuator arm is obliquely angled relative to the inner surface
of the locking arm.
8. The scalpel of claim 5, wherein the locking elements are
openings in said handle and the locking member is a tooth sized to
engage said openings.
9. The scalpel of claim 5, wherein the locking arm is integrally
biased toward the handle.
10. The scalpel of claim 5, wherein the blade is secured to the
carrier by a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart rivets; and
the handle has a longitudinal recess in which the rivets ride
during the shifting of the carrier relative to the handle.
11. The scalpel of claim 1, wherein the locking device comprises a
lever, including an actuator arm extending toward the front of the
carrier and having an outwardly projecting pad forming said
actuator, and a locking arm extending toward the back of the
carrier and having said locking member projecting inwardly.
12. The scalpel of claim 11, wherein both of said locking elements
are in the base of the handle; a recess in the base of the handle
extends from one web adjacent one locking element to another web
adjacent the other locking element; whereby during said shifting of
the carrier relative to the handle the locking member rides in said
recess and upon further shifting from the recess into a locking
element is deflected by and rides over a web.
13. The scalpel of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower
longitudinal guide tracks are located along the upper and lower
edges of the carrier engaging upper and lower edges of the handle,
whereby the tracks maintain the carrier and handle in parallel
axial alignment while the carrier and secured blade are shiftable
longitudinally relative to the handle.
14. The scalpel of claim 13, wherein the locking elements are
openings in said handle and the locking member is a tooth sized to
engage said openings; the locking member is integrally biased
toward the handle; the blade is secured to the carrier by a
plurality of longitudinally spaced apart rivets; the handle has a
longitudinal recess in which the rivets ride during the shifting of
the carrier relative to the handle; and the blade shield is
situated adjacent to and extending longitudinally along a portion
of the recess, facing the blade.
15. The scalpel of claim 13, wherein the handle is at least three
times as long as the carrier and blade.
16. The scalpel of claim 1, wherein the back of the handle has a
base portion and the back of the carrier has a base portion and
each of the handle and carrier has a protrusion that narrows toward
respective front ends of the handle and carrier; the locking
elements are openings in said handle and the locking member is a
pivoting tooth biased toward and sized to engage said openings; the
blade is secured to the carrier by a plurality of longitudinally
spaced apart rivets; the protruding portion of the handle has a
longitudinal recess in which the rivets ride during the shifting of
the carrier relative to the handle; and the blade shield projects
inwardly adjacent to and extends longitudinally along the recess,
facing the blade.
17. The scalpel of claim 1, wherein the back of the handle has a
base portion and the back of the carrier has a base portion and
each of the handle and carrier has a protrusion that narrows toward
respective front ends of the handle and carrier; the protruding
portion of the carrier has a height that is correspondingly less
than the height of the protruding portion of the handle; the blade
shield projects inwardly along a rearward extend of the protruding
portion of the handle and faces the blade; and in the safety lock
position of the scalpel, the blade shield overlies a rearward
portion of the blade cutting edge and the protruding portion of the
handle forward of the shield provides protection for the forward
portion of the blade cutting edge.
18. A surgical scalpel comprising: a substantially flat handle
elongated on a handle axis and having a front, a back, outer and
inner sides, and vertically opposite upper and lower edges; a
substantially flat blade carrier elongated on a carrier axis,
having a front, a back, inner and outer sides, and vertically
opposite upper and lower edges; wherein the back of the handle has
a base portion and the back of the carrier has a base portion, and
each of the handle and carrier has a frontal protrusion that
narrows vertically toward the respective fronts, thereby defining
respective vertical profiles; a blade secured to the inner side of
the carrier and projecting from the front of the carrier laterally
adjacent to the protrusion on the handle, the blade having a
cutting edge that faces away from the lower edge of the carrier,
longitudinal guide tracks on one of the handle or carrier engaging
the other of the handle or carrier, whereby the tracks maintain the
carrier and handle in close parallel axial alignment while the
carrier and secured blade are shiftable longitudinally relative to
the handle; a locking device at the back of the carrier including a
locking member at the inside of the carrier; two locking elements
longitudinally spaced apart on the inside of the handle and aligned
with the locking member on the carrier; whereby the locking member
is selectively engageable with each locking element as the carrier
and blade shift longitudinally between a rearward locked safety
position in which the cutting edge of the blade is entirely within
the profile of the frontal protrusion of the handle and a forward
locked deployment position in which the cutting edge of the blade
projects from the front of the handle.
19. A surgical scalpel comprising: a substantially flat handle
elongated on a handle axis and having a front, a back, outer and
inner sides, and vertically opposite upper and lower edges; a blade
shield at the upper edge of the handle, projecting inwardly; a
blade carrier elongated on a carrier axis, having a front, a back,
inner and outer sides, and vertically opposite upper and lower
edges; wherein the back of the handle has a base portion and the
back of the carrier has a base portion, and each of the handle and
carrier has a frontal protrusion that narrows vertically toward the
respective fronts, thereby defining respective vertical profiles; a
blade secured to the inner side of the carrier and projecting from
the front of the carrier, laterally adjacent to the protrusion on
the handle, the blade having a cutting edge that faces away from
the bottom edge of the carrier, toward the said shield; upper and
lower longitudinal guide tracks along upper and lower edges of one
of the handle or carrier engaging upper and lower edges
respectively on the other of the handle or carrier, whereby the
tracks maintain the carrier and handle in close parallel alignment
while the carrier and secured blade are shiftable longitudinally
relative to the handle; a locking device at the back end of the
carrier including an actuator on the outside of the carrier and a
locking member at the inside of the carrier; two locking elements
longitudinally spaced apart on the inside of the handle and aligned
with the locking member on the carrier; whereby the locking member
is selectively engageable with each locking element as the carrier
and blade shift longitudinally between a rearward locked safety
position in which the cutting edge of the blade is entirely within
the profile of the frontal protrusion of the handle and a forward
locked deployment position in which the cutting edge of the blade
projects from the front of the handle.
20. The scalpel of claim 19, wherein in the rearward locked safety
position a rearward portion of the cutting edge of the blade is
beneath said shield and a forward portion of the cutting edge is
forward of the shield but within the profile of the frontal
protrusion of the handle.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/921,738 filed Apr. 4, 2007, for
"Miniature Disposable Safety Scalpel", the entire disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to surgical scalpels and
especially to miniature scalpels.
[0003] In order to minimize any danger of accidental injury all
currently produced surgical scalpels feature means to cover or
otherwise protect the sharp edge of the blade whenever the scalpel
is not deployed for use, including prior to disposal after the use.
Ideally this protective means should be permanently attached to the
scalpel and preferably be engaged and disengaged by fingers of one
hand only.
SUMMARY
[0004] The disposable safety scalpel according to the present
disclosure comprises a handle and a blade carrier, which fit
together such that the blade carrier can shift between a retracted
position whereby a front portion of the handle covers or otherwise
blocks contact with the sharp edge of the blade, and an extended
position whereby the sharp edge of the blade protrudes beyond the
handle. The handle has a substantially flat base portion that can
be held by the forefinger of the surgeon for shifting of the
carrier with the thumb between retracted and extended positions.
When the carrier and blade are extended, the surgeon can hold only
the base of the handle between the thumb and forefinger for cutting
during surgery.
[0005] The shifting between the retracted and deployed positions
with only the fingers of one hand can be readily accomplished even
in the presence of slippery fluids during surgery. Also, the
sandwiching of handle, blade, and blade carrier according to the
invention, results in an exceptionally thin scalpel. As a
consequence, when the scalpel is deployed, the base of the handle
where grasped, the overlapping region of the locking interaction
and blade attachment, and the extended blade, present an overall
slim appearance as viewed by the surgeon from above.
[0006] In an exemplary aspect, the scalpel comprises an elongated
handle having a front and a back, outer and inner sides, and
vertically opposite upper and lower edges. An elongated blade
carrier has front and back ends, inner and outer sides, and
vertically opposite upper and lower edges. The back of the handle
has a base portion, the back of the carrier has a base portion, and
each of the handle and carrier has a frontal protrusion that
preferably narrows vertically toward the respective front ends,
thereby defining respective vertical profiles. A blade is secured
to the inner side of the carrier and projects from the front of the
carrier laterally adjacent to the protrusion on the handle. The
blade cutting edge faces away from the bottom edge of the carrier.
Longitudinal guide tracks on one of the handle or carrier engage
the other of the handle or carrier, whereby the tracks maintain the
carrier and handle in close parallel axial alignment while the
carrier and secured blade are shiftable longitudinally relative to
the handle. A locking device is located at the back end of the
carrier and includes a locking member at the inside of the carrier.
Two locking elements are longitudinally spaced apart on the inside
of the handle and aligned with the locking member on the carrier.
In this manner, the locking member is selectively engageable with
each locking element as the carrier and blade shift longitudinally
between a rearward locked safety position in which the cutting edge
of the blade is entirely within the profile of the frontal
protrusion of the handle and a forward locked deployment position
in which the cutting edge of the blade projects from the front end
of the handle.
[0007] Preferably, the engageable parts of carrier and handle are
of generally similar shape but have a different size, whereby the
smaller member can slide in track guides of the larger member. As a
further preference, the locking device in the base portion of the
carrier has a longitudinally oriented lever arm with a tooth
portion that is biased toward the handle so it can snap into either
of two longitudinally spaced locking windows on the base portion of
the handle as the blade carrier slides forward or backward in
tracks of the handle. An actuating button or the like is on the
opposite end of the lever arm, facing away from the handle, such
that depressing the button lifts the toothed end out of one locking
window so the carrier can be shifted and secured by engagement of
the tooth in the other locking window.
[0008] The blade carrier and handle are well suited for cooperation
as a miniature scalpel, but can be configured with a handle that is
much longer than the carrier. Especially with the longer handle,
the guide tracks can be on either the handle or the carrier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0009] Embodiments of the invention will be described in greater
detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in
which:
[0010] FIG. 1, is a perspective view of the blade carrier and the
handle, prior to joining together to form a miniature safety
scalpel according to aspects of the invention;
[0011] FIGS. 2 and 3 are each elevation views of blade carriers
showing different versions of anti-slippage surfaces on the handle
portions;
[0012] FIGS. 4A and 4B show the outside and the inside of the blade
carrier, respectively;
[0013] FIGS. 5A and 5B show the operation of a first version of the
locking arm;
[0014] FIGS. 6A and 6B show the operation of another version of the
locking arm;
[0015] FIG. 7 shows the preferred profile of the region on which
the tooth slides between the front and back locking windows;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a side view of the scalpel with the blade exposed
for use;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a side view of the scalpel with the blade
retracted for protection;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but for a second
embodiment modified for use with a full length handle;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a variation of the scalpel of FIG. 10, wherein
the sliding track is on the carrier rather than on the handle;
[0020] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
miniature scalpel; and
[0021] FIG. 13 is a section view along line 13-13 of FIG. 12.
DESCRIPTION
[0022] With reference first to FIG. 1, the miniature scalpel 10
comprises two main components: a compact handle and protection
shield combination 12 and a blade carrier and blade assembly 14.
For convenient and consistent reference, the sides of the handle
and carrier that face each other will herein be deemed the
"inside", whereas the respective opposite sides will be deemed the
"outside".
[0023] The figure shows both main components prior to final
assembly. Each part has a base portion 16, 18 in the back and a
vertically narrowing protrusion 20, 22 at the front. In this
embodiment the height of the base portion of the carrier 14 is less
than the height of the base portion of the handle 12, and likewise
the height of the protruding portion 22 of the carrier is
correspondingly less than the height of the narrowing portion 20 of
the handle. Because the overall shapes are similar but the carrier
is smaller than the handle, the parts are subsequently assembled by
inserting of the blade carrier in between the upper and lower guide
tracks 24, 26 at the upper and lower edges of the handle and moving
the blade carrier from right to left until the toggle lever tooth
28 on the locking device 40 passes the forward (first) locking
element on the handle such as rectangular opening or window 30 and
then engages with the rear (second) rectangular opening 32 of the
handle. This is preferably confirmed by an audible clicking sound.
The blade assembly is then ready for sterilization and
packaging.
[0024] With further reference to FIGS. 2-9, a shallow groove or
recess 34 is provided in the inside surface of the handle
protrusion 20 for accommodating the rivet heads 58, 60 which attach
the blade to the carrier body, and thereby minimize the lateral
distance between the cutting edge 36' of blade 36 and the blade
guide 38 of the handle when the blade is retracted. The left end
34' of this groove 34 at the same time prevents any over travel
toward the left, which could cause possible disengagement. Similar
means, such as a small interfering notch (not shown) in the lower
guide track 26, prevents possible over travel beyond blade exposed
position.
[0025] The handle 14 is substantially flat except that the upper
guide track 24 projects transversely inward from the upper edge of
the base portion 16 of the handle, and the lower track 26 projects
transversely inward from the lower edge of the handle, keeping a
uniform distance between them substantially equal to the uniform
height of the base portion 18 of the carrier. The lower track 26
can extend from the forward portion of the base 16 substantially
the full length of the front portion 20 of the handle, to cradle
the lower edge of the front portion 22 of the carrier. The upper
track preferably extends only along the forward portion of base 16,
approximately spanning the openings 30, 32. The upper edge of the
front portion 22 of the carrier is not contacted by the
(foreshortened) upper track 24.
[0026] In one embodiment as shown in detail in FIG. 9, the front
portion of the handle has an inwardly projecting guide 38 for
laterally contacting the cutting edge 36' of the retracted blade,
which faces away from the bottom edge of the carrier. The upper and
lower edges of the front portion of the handle define a vertical
profile P, and the blade 36 remains within the profile when in the
retracted position. The top edge of the guide 38 will thus block
vertical contact with the edge 36' of the blade. The edge of the
blade is angled obliquely as affixed to the carrier, and the guide
upper edge has substantially the same profile angle. The front end
38' of the guide 38 does not reach the front tip 20' of the handle,
but the top edge 20'' of the handle rises above the cutting edge
and likewise blocks vertical contact with the blade edge. The main
purpose of the inward projection 38 of the guide in this embodiment
is to provide lateral support to the blade edge 36 and thus
maintain the blade edge in proper axial alignment during
shifting.
[0027] In another embodiment the inwardly projecting structure at
the location of the guide 38 could instead be formed as a hood,
cover, spaced apart studs or other transverse projection, extending
along the rear portion of the handle protrusion 20, to overly the
cutting edge 36' of the blade and directly shield at least the
rearward portion of the cutting edge when in the retracted
position. For example, track 24 could be extended along profile P.
As used herein, the term "shield" should be understood as
encompassing structure that contacts or covers the cutting edge of
the blade in a manner that blocks vertical access to the cutting
edge.
[0028] With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, the base
portion 18 of the carrier has a longitudinally oriented locking
device preferably in the form of a lever 40 that pivots about an
axis passing through the carrier base. A locking arm cantilevered
forward of the pivot axis includes a tooth portion 28 that is
biased toward the handle 12 so it can snap into either of the two
longitudinally spaced locking windows 30, 32 on the base portion of
the handle as the blade carrier slides forward or backward in
tracks 24, 26 of the handle. It is not necessary that the windows
30, 32 penetrate the full thickness of the handle. The biasing of
the tooth 28 need not be via a separate member, but is preferably a
result of the thickness of the lever 40 or tooth portion 28
relative to the separation distance between the base portions 16,
18 of the assembled device. An actuating arm is cantilevered toward
the rear and has an actuating pad or button 42 such that depressing
the button lifts the toothed end 28 out of one locking window so
the carrier and blade can be shifted and secured by engagement of
the tooth in the other locking window. The fulcrum of the lever is
preferably formed by lateral integral web regions 44 that are thin
or flexible enough to permit pivoting around the web centerlines
(pivot axis) 66 that extend transverse to the lever 40. The button
extends in free space behind the web 44, whereas the arm portion
forward of the web is situated in a cut out 46 through the base
18.
[0029] Preferably, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 9, the back
locking element 32 is located immediately forward of the textured
surfaces 16' of the base of the handle, and the front locking
element 30 is longitudinally spaced forward of the back locking
element. The recess 48 in the handle extends from one web 64
adjacent the locking element 32 to another web 66 adjacent the
other locking element 30 whereby during shifting of the carrier
relative to the handle the locking member 28 rides in the recess 48
and upon further shifting from the recess into a locking element is
deflected by and rides over a web. Preferably, each of the webs has
a transition slope 50, 52 that rises from the recess to a flat
surface immediately adjacent to the respective locking element. To
facilitate pivoting of the locking device, the actuator arm and
locking arm have obliquely angled inner surfaces 54, 56 facing the
handle. The pivot axis is shown at 66.
[0030] FIGS. 5A and 5B show two options 28A and 28B for the tooth.
The tooth 28A has a tapered or frustoconical shape 28A', whereas
tooth 28B' is substantially rectangular or cylindrical with an
annular shoulder 28B'.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the textured anti-slippage
surfaces on both side surfaces of the base portion of the handle
can be dimples 16', shallow depressions, vertical channels 16'' or
perforations. Also, a deeply channeled or swirled surface on the
actuating button 42 can be provided. This minimizes the
accumulation of blood-induced finger slippage where the surgeon is
expected to exert relatively opposite, axially directed forces with
the forefinger and thumb to extend or retract the blade, or
transverse force to lift the tooth 28 out of a locking window, or
uniformly axially directed forces to produce a cutting action
during surgery.
[0032] The above described design is very compact. In the extended
position the device is the size of a conventional fixed blade thumb
scalpel. Both the handle and carrier components can be manufactured
in plastic with by very simple dies. Because the blade is visible
even in the retracted position, neither of the parts needs to be
transparent. The material of both components can be identical (type
and color) making recycling much easier.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 9, the base portion 18 of the
carrier including the locking device 40 overlays the base portion
16 of the handle when the scalpel is in the locked safety position.
Preferably one locking element 32 is located immediately forward of
the textured surfaces of the base of the handle, and the other
locking element 30 is longitudinally spaced forward of the one
locking element 32. Furthermore, in the locked safety position of
the scalpel the carrier and blade lie within the front, back, and
upper and lower edges of the handle, i.e. within the perimeter or
profile P of the handle. This is a consequence of the overall
similar but smaller shape of the carrier. In the deployed position
of the scalpel the base 18 of the carrier is forward of the base 16
of the handle, whereby the outer and inner surfaces of the base 16
of the handle can be grasped between the thumb and forefinger for
manipulating the blade, while the blade projects forwardly from the
handle.
[0034] Also evident in FIG. 8, is that in the deployed position,
the locking engagement of the tooth 28 in the window 30 is situated
nearly vertically between portions of both upper and lower tracks
24, 26 that engage upper and lower edges of the carrier. This
provides high stability to the lock.
[0035] In FIG. 9, the cutting edge of the blade partially overlaps
laterally with the shield and the cutting edge is entirely below
the upper edge of the handle protrusion, but the angle of the blade
is such that when the carrier is deployed as per FIG. 8, a portion
of the of the cutting edge overlaps but is above the protrusion of
the handle while the remainder of the cutting edge is forward of
the protrusion.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 10, a very similar blade carrier can be
used for full length and, partially disposable scalpels. In the
full length embodiment 100, the handle 112 extends well back of the
carrier 114, i.e., at least three times the length. One of ordinary
skill can optimize the profile P' of the handle to accommodate and
protect a variety of blades 136. This affords the possibility of
providing a uniform handle that can accommodate a variety of blade
sizes or types. Such variety can in most instances rely on a
uniform carrier; however, the protrusion at the front end of the
handle must be sized to provide full protection for the variety of
blades.
[0037] Especially in but not limited to the embodiment of a
universal handle and blade carrier, relocation of the guide track
224, 226 from the handle 212 to the blade carrier 214 can simplify
the shape of the handle to become a flat piece of material. One
such embodiment is shown in FIG. 11. Because of the simplicity,
this version would be ideally suitable for application with a semi
disposable scalpel (scalpel with reusable stainless steel handle
212). Additional means (not shown) could be provided to protect and
cover the blade 236 while still stored in its sterile pouch (prior
to being attached to the handle 212). This protection could for
example be provided by a breakaway extension of the blade carrier
214 temporarily covering the blade 236 or by a loose flat plastic
flap inserted between both guide tracks 224, 226 covering the blade
until it is pushed out by the handle during the process of
attaching the blade carrier to the handle.
[0038] Another embodiment of the miniature scalpel 300 is shown in
FIGS. 12 and 13, which embodiment can also be adapted with the
variations shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this embodiment the
orientation of the locking device on the carrier is longitudinal
reversed and the locking elements on the handle are commensurately
longitudinally set farther back into the base of the handle, while
maintaining the slim lines and improving the ease of use. The last
two digits in the numeric identifiers in FIGS. 12 and 13 refer to
functionally similar structure identified with the same two digits
in FIGS. 1-9.
[0039] The scalpel 300, shown in the deployed condition, has a
handle 312 and a blade carrier 314 with respective base portions
316, 318 in the back and a vertically narrowing protrusion 320, 322
at the front. The parts are assembled by inserting of the blade
carrier in between the upper and lower guide tracks 324, 326 at the
upper and lower edges of the handle and moving the blade carrier
from right to left until the toggle lever tooth 328 on the locking
device 340 passes the forward (first) locking element on the handle
such as rectangular opening or window 330 and then engages with the
rear (second) rectangular opening 332 of the handle.
[0040] A shallow groove or recess 334 is provided in the inside
surface of the handle protrusion 320 for accommodating the rivet
heads which attach the blade 336 to the carrier body, and thereby
minimize the lateral distance between the cutting edge of blade 336
and the blade guide 338 of the handle when the blade is
retracted.
[0041] The base portion 318 of the carrier including the locking
device 340 overlays the base portion 316 of the handle when the
scalpel is in the locked safety position. One locking element 332
is located close at the back end of the handle and the other
locking element 330 is spaced longitudinally forward. Preferably,
as shown in FIG. 13, both locking elements 330, 332 on the inside
of the back 316 of the handle are within the longitudinal span of
the textures surface 316' on the outside of the base of the handle.
The recess 348 in the handle extends from one web adjacent the
locking element 332 to another web adjacent the other locking
element 330 whereby during shifting of the carrier relative to the
handle the locking member 328 rides in the recess 348 and upon
further shifting from the recess into a locking element is
deflected by and rides over a web.
[0042] The locking device 340 has the tooth 328 toward the back and
the actuating pad 342 toward the front of the base 318. The locking
device 340 can be a simple lever as in the previously described
embodiments, or the actuating and locking arms can be laterally
supported for a pivoting type movement, by a pair of legs or the
like, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,317. The outside
back of the carrier has a no-slip, textured surface 318'
surrounding and forward of the locking device 340. This provides a
greater textured contact area for the thumb during shifting, than
the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9.
[0043] As in the other embodiments described herein, the front
portion of the handle has an inwardly projecting guide 338 for
laterally contacting the cutting edge of the retracted blade 336.
The upper and lower edges of the front portion of the handle define
a vertical profile and the blade 336 remains within the profile
when in the retracted position. The top edge of the guide 338 will
thus block vertical contact with the edge 336 of the blade.
[0044] For many users, the scalpel 300 according to FIGS. 12 and 13
should feel better balanced and stable. With the actuating button
342 located more forwardly, closer to the center of the device, the
tendency of any incidentally applied torque to rotate the carrier
is reduced.
* * * * *